Effects of metal additives on the performance characteristics of lithium--aluminum alloy electrodes. [Sn, Pb, Cu, In]

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7211694

Vissers, D. R.; Anderson, K. E.; Mrazek, F. C.

Solid lithium--aluminum alloy electrodes have shown a great deal of promise for meeting the performance requirements of negative electrodes in lithium/metal sulfide batteries for stationary energy storage and for electric vehicle propulsion. In an effort to improve the performance of the lithium--aluminum alloy electrode, investigations were conducted to determine the effect of various metal additives (tin, lead, copper, and indium) on the performance and cycle life (capacity retention) of these lithium--metal alloys. The electrodes were characterized by measuring the achievable capacity densities as a function of current density and number of cycles. The addition of 5 wt percent copper, 5 wt percent tin, or 10 wt percent lead did not markedly improve the cycle life of the lithium--metal alloy electrode; however, the tin additive improved the performance of the electrode during its first 100 cycles. In contrast, the addition of indium at the 3.9 wt percent level markedly improved the cycle life. The capacity decline of the Li--Al--3.9 wt percent In alloy was less than 0.01 percent per deep cycle, which compares with about 0.06 percent per deep cycle for the binary Li--Al alloy electrode. Preliminary studies of the indium additive at the 1 wt percent level also look very promising. Postoperative photomicrographic examinations of the active material in the lithium--metal alloy electrodes suggest that the indium additive results in a more dendritic-like material than that in the binary Li--Al alloy electrodes. 1 figure, 6 tables.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 7211694
• Report Number(s): CONF-770531-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250903* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ADDITIVES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOY SYSTEMS
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
ANODES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COPPER ALLOYS
CRYSTALS
CURRENT DENSITY
DENDRITES
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
INDIUM ALLOYS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
LEAD ALLOYS
LITHIUM ALLOYS
LITHIUM CHLORIDES
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM HALIDES
LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
MINERALS
OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE
ORES
PERFORMANCE
POTASSIUM CHLORIDES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
PYRITE
PYRITES
SERVICE LIFE
STORAGE
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ORES
TERNARY ALLOY SYSTEMS
TIN ALLOYS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VEHICLES